Kawempe North By-Election: The Media and the NUP hit by the JAT operation in this by-election

“Police have defended the presence of the Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JAT) in Kawempe, describing it as a legally established security unit. Spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma advised those questioning JAT’s actions to seek legal redress. This follows the forceful detention of Elias Nalukoola shortly after his nomination” (NTV Uganda, 03.03.2025).

“Our own news reporter, Steven Mbidde, was seen being attacked by men in uniform earlier this morning as he attempted to speak to David Lewis Rubongoya at Wandegeya Police Station, where some of the arrested NUP supporters were being held after yesterday’s raid” (NTV Uganda, 04.03.2024).

“The National Unity Platform supporters who were brutally arrested yesterday from a political rally in Kawempe are set to charged in court at Kawempe Magistrate’s court. We strongly condemn election-related violence and abuse of civil rights in Uganda” (Freedom Hive Uganda, 04.03.2025).

This is just too common and to established by the authorities. The Uganda Police Force and JAT are active. They are able and allowed to set a precedence in the by-elections. This is the foreplay to the General Elections in 2026. The ones believing it will be better and freer are wrong. The state is showing force now and telling the public what it thinks of them.

That the authorities are using violence, usage of live-bullets and tear-gas, in addition to arresting, kidnapping and even detaining people for political affiliation. That is what the state does and does so to intimidate. They are targeting the National Unity Platform (NUP). This isn’t happening to the other political parties or their supporters or activists. That is visible for the naked eye.

This By-Election won’t be remembered for the political messaging or the stature of the candidates. No, this election is marred with state sponsored violence. The state is on high alert and made the By-Election a warzone, as we anticipated. The NUP is the target and being in association of the party is endangering for a civilian. Any citizen who are part of it or participate with the NUP. They should be aware that the state is aiming at them and they could become victims of the state oppression for doing so.

Citizen are being taken into custody and detained for their political affiliation. The media is hit and feeling a pinch following up or monitoring the acts of the state. Instead of letting people assemble and being free to associate with whoever. They are now going against the ones who dares to participate and be a part of the NUP in Kawempe North By-Election. That is the reality here…

We are seeing UPF and JAT misusing their power… and the people are the victims of their orders and active operation within the period of campaign period. That is clear here and we see the wounds, the damage and the suffering they are committed to give the people of Kawempe. Peace.

Eswatini: PUDEMO – Not allowed to sing political songs or eat chicken

“State police officers followed members of eSwatini’s main and largest liberation movement, the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) to Moneni Ntangazethu Butchery after stopping their strategic meeting at SNAT Centre-Manzini on Saturday. The PUDEMO members were ordered not to sing political songs while eating meat at the butchery, Brian Sangweni, the PUDEMO Spokesperson confirmed to this Swaziland News while Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati declined to comment” (Swaziland News, 01.03.2025).

“The PUDEMO catering team left the cooking area at the SNAT centre on Saturday morning after King Mswati’s police violently ordered them to stop cooking. The team was preparing food for the party’s strategic meeting at the venue. One police officer by the name of Stukxi Dlamini was assigned to guard the cooking area. Later on, when they came back the catering team discovered that 2 packets of chicken portions were missing. This was confirmed by the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) National Organizing Secretary Siboniso Mkhabela” (Swaziland Democratic News, 02.03.2025).

The absolute monarch and his regime are blocking the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) from holding a strategic meeting at the SNAT centre. That what went down this weekend.

The Kingdom is blocking PUDEMO from organizing and working. That is a deliberate action. As the authorities and the state is going after them. First, they weren’t allowed to hold a strategic meeting at SNAT. Secondly, the PUDEMO moved to the Moneni Ntangazethu Butchery, where they weren’t allowed to sing political songs. Therefore, PUDEMO was blocked from everywhere and wasn’t allowed to congregate. That’s the gist of things.

They blocked the venue and the planned meeting. So, when the party moved to a butchery. The authorities went after them as well. The party wasn’t allowed to strategize and eat chicken. They had to leave both places, and the state came with the big guns to go after them.

We the almighty king is allowed to do anything in his monarchy. That is well known, and vast spending sprees aren’t a secret either. The King appoints and keeps his court within his midst. The monarch doesn’t want anyone else to have a say or even hold any real power. Only his words matter, and his lifestyle is more important the lives of his citizens. That’s why he cannot have political parties or elected officials for that matter either. No, he needs to control his dominion and the acts of PUDEMO, and others are just troublemakers for him.

This is why the King, and his authorities has used force against his dissidents. That isn’t anything new. In the kingdom this is just another Saturday. We have seen it all before, but now the officers ate the chicken too. Peace.

Eswatini: People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) – A Fierce Condemnation of the Eswatini Royal Police’s Brutal Suppression of the People’s Voice (01.03.2025)

Opinion: Is the Habeas Corpus Principle dying the Republic? [Another horrific Singiza judgment]

Judges in this country do not so to speak enjoy a ‘floating power’ to hear and determine any disputes anywhere wherever they occur. It would amount to judicial chaos and blunder were any judge to sit and hear any disputes brought to him or her without checking first whether there would be a better suited high court division or circuit to do so in the first place as is the case in the motion before me” (Justice Dr Douglas Karekona Singiza, 03.03.2025).

Today’s judgment by Justice Douglas Singiza in regard to the case of Attorney Eron Kiiza is telling. It is a story that needs to be shed light on. As his another fellow civilian that is lingering between the Courts and is on remand in Prison, because they captured in the General Court Martial and charged him there. He was there as counsel of Dr. Kizza Besigye and became a “criminal” for doing so.

This case is just further proof of misuse of authority and the instruments of the state. They are playing ping-pong with lives and take the citizens hostage. These people are detained without proper trials or even concerns about the allegations pinned on the civilians. They are victims of circumstances and association. That’s it.

Meanwhile the likes of the Judge wonders why people don’t have kind words for him. Well, his use of power and office is why they don’t like him. His a man of the President and the Authorities, his not a man of the people or serving the general public at large. No, he serve the interests of the state and the will of being used as a tool of oppression.

Just read this court decision!

I take the firm view that the procedure adopted by the applicant to challenge the impugned

conviction and sentence was an incorrect one. I would probably have attempted to answer the

motion questions had the applicant approached this court by way of an application for judicial

review. Moreover, this Court would not be clothed with the requisite criminal appellate or

revisionary powers to examine the challenged conviction and sentence by the GCM” (Justice Dr Douglas Karekona Singiza, 03.03.2025).

This judge couldn’t accept a petition of the court of Habeas Corpus, because he feels ill-suited and not fitted for it. The same man that saw it fit to send a man to prison to heal, instead of giving bonds or bails to get into hospital. This judge have no common sense or concern for fellow civilian. No, his a servant of the President and not upholding law. As he has no trouble violating the Judiciary Act, and especially the article 34(b), which states this:

The High Court—may award a writ of habeas corpus ad test testificandum or habeas corpus ad respondendum for bringing up any prisoner detained in any prison before any court, a court-martial, an official or special referee, an arbitrator or any commissioners acting under the authority of any commission from the President for trial or, as the case may be, to be examined touching any matter to be inquired into by or pending before a court, a court-martial, an official or special referee, an arbitrator or the commissioners” (Judiciary Act, 1996).

The Court here didn’t even try to do this. It wasn’t even bothered to do so. This just shows that the Judiciary Act is a worthless piece of paper. Just like so many other laws and texts, which should be guided and studied in the Republic. These are becoming wasted ink and time, as they are not adhered to and not valued by the rulers. The rule of law is dying when judges can do this technicalities and use their office for such rulings. This isn’t upholding the law or concerned about justification for a person being incarcerated. No, this is just making excuses and uses the courts as a mechanisms to keep people detained. That’s done without proper procedure or justification to do so.

Attorney Eron Kiiza deserves better, but so does anyone who is moved from the General Court Martial to a civilian court. They all deserve better and the judges should be worried about the aftermath of all of this. As they will be remembered for the henchmen of the state. That’s what they are and this sort of judgment proves it. Peace.

Kawempe North By-Election: The Security Agencies targets the By-Election

“Security operatives got into a confrontation with National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters during Elias Nalukoola’s campaign drive moments ago in Kawempe” (Patro Uganda, 03.03.2025).

“The NRM aspirant for Kawempe North, Faridah Nambi has unveiled a list of programmes she plans to implement for her constituents if elected to parliament. Nambi said her manifesto prioritizes lobbying funds to empower women and youths who she says are suffering most due to the prevailing economic hardships as a result of lack of jobs” (NRM Party, 03.03.2025).

“The Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere, has criticized the government and law enforcement agencies for resorting to violence against opposition politicians and the public during the nomination process for the Kawempe North parliamentary seat” (Radio5 Uganda, 03.03.2025).

Today we are seeing the Warzone Aka By-Election in the Kawempe North, which is in campaign mode ahead of the 13th of March 2025 polls. The state is already besieged the area and is prepared for whatever that goes down. The authorities and the security agencies were ordered on the streets and be active.

This isn’t even about who’s the candidates or if they have the right merit to be elected. At this moment we are just seeing the system and state target the biggest opposition party. They are using drones, tear-gas and live bullets. The security organizations like Uganda Police Force and Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JATT or JATF) are participate in it. These two entities are using force and being violent towards citizens and activists in this By-Election. Nothing new here, but it is shown by the videos online and pictures gone viral too.

The messaging of the candidates lose weight or meaning when people are hurt, arrested, kidnapped and possibly made into felons over participating in the by-election. The state is targeting it and using their power to intimidate, threaten and trying to silence the opposition. This is why they are targeting the NUP especially, as they know that is the biggest challenger.

It is just telling that it has come to this. The state is using force and their monopoly on violence to order it to the streets. Instead of coming with favours and giving way. They are going after the people and the citizens who happens to be there.

The Kawempe North By-Election is now marred with tear-gas, live bullets and drones. That is misuse of power and shows how they are operating. This shows how the state is willing to use force and what sort of “elections” that is going on. Those sorts of actions don’t happen when the yellow candidate is passing through the same streets. No, this happens when the reds are getting there. That’s what we see, and it is so obvious. The ones that state doesn’t fear or is worried about. This is who walks safely, but the who challenge the state is hit with blunt force. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) – Ethiopia Has Abandoned the 2018 Peace Agreement with ONLF (01.03.2025)

Guinee: Union des Forces Democratiques de Guinee (UFDG) – Declaration (02.03.2025)

RDC: FARDC – Communique de Presse No. 007 (01.03.2025)

RDC: Forces Armees Republique Democratique du Congo (FARDC) – Communique de Presse No. 007 (01.03.2025)

Guinea Bissau: A man without a mandate

Umaro Sissoco Embaló was officially without a mandate on the 27th February 2025. The last term of the President began on the 27th February 2020 and his term is up. There been no Presidential Elections or polls for that matter.

We already know that the President doesn’t want a “crook” to takeover from him. However, that doesn’t imply that he holds on to the instruments of the state and the office itself. It is for the citizens of the Republic to decide if they want to keep him there or elect someone else.

It is really something else when the Republic itself is scheduling Presidential Elections in November 2025. When the President and the State itself know the mandate or the Term has already ended. It is giving the President more months to be in office and use the powers of the office he resides in.

This is also really something knowing how Embalo was claiming his predecessor Vaz had a “coup d’etat” and planned for his loss in the 2019 elections. As the PAIGC versus the Madem G15 went head to head in two rounds before it was settled. The incumbent party PAIGC bowed out and let their candidate Domingos Simões Pereira accept the defeat.

Embaló is now pushing to overstay in office, as he hasn’t a successor or any sort of “Plan B”. No, there is no proof of what he wants. We can only see that his a vagabond and using the office for questionable profiteering. The administration of the President is known for being a hub for drug trafficking and other criminal conspiracy. That’s what the Osvaldo Vieira International Airport has become synonymous with.

We are now seeing a heist of a nation from a man that was supposed to change the nation. Alas, he takes the nation for granted and willing to risk the stability of the Republic while doing so. We should expect human rights violations and up-right oppression in the name of the President. A Head of State that is living on others people’s borrowed time.

The President should know his time and hour. The handlers and state apparatus can claim he started his term late, but there is documentation of him starting in February 2020. Therefore, the President should do the noble thing, but we know that won’t happen.

The people of Guinea-Bissau deserves better than this. What sort of trickery is this? Who does the President think he is? Does he thinks all the civilians and the people are foolish? He think he can silence them all and keep them entertained with his foreign adventures? Seriously, is this who the President is? Peace.